William Hill Towton Novices' Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 5m 20.80s

Chasing Fire¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: O Murphy| OR: 136| C

13/2

Multiple hurdles winner who stepped up on those efforts when making an impressive winning chasing debut in a novice at Uttoxeter in October. However, he was a shade disappointing at Ayr next time and then unseated rider at the first in an Aintree handicap.

Form: 103-14U

Colonel Harry^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 148| BF

5/4

Ex-pointer who quickly developed into a likeable and useful hurdler last season. Followed ready chase debut success at Chepstow with a solid second in a Grade 1 novice at Sandown (15.4f, soft) where he shaped as though this stiffer test would be right up his street. Big player.

Form: 1412-12

The King Of Ryhope³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Fergus Gillard| T: D Skelton| OR: 135| BF| D

17/2

Low-mileage 8-y-o who improved to make a winning return/handicap chase debut at Chepstow (19.5f, soft) in October, seeing off a resilient rival (pair clear). Conditions were perhaps too testing at Ffos Las since and probably worth another chance, albeit this is a big ask.

Form: 2133-13

Trelawne²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 143| D

13/8

Winner of 3 of his 4 starts over hurdles and immediately improved on that form as he made a successful debut over fences after 8 months off at Carlisle (2½m, soft) in November. Didn't do much wrong when third at Cheltenham since and he should have a part to play.

Form: 13/11-13

Non-Runners

Meetingofthewaters¹⁷

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: W P Mullins J: Non Runner

Hurricane Highway³⁵

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: Evan Williams J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Colonel Harry (5/4), Trelawne (13/8), Meetingofthewaters (9/2), Chasing Fire (13/2), The King Of Ryhope (17/2), Hurricane Highway (16/1)

COLONEL HARRY was doing all his best work at the finish when runner-up in the Henry VIII at Sandown and, with improvement anticipated now faced with a stiffer test, he looks the way to go. It was a decent novice in which Trelawne was third at Cheltenham last month and he is second choice.